The 4 Series Gran Coupe (F36) has now taken its development to the Nurburgring for some high speed performance testing. It's the first we've seen of the prototype on the Ring, as well as being fitted with M Sport Brakes.

As always, don't worry about the headlights and tail lights of the prototypes at this stage of testing. They are merely fakes for testing purposes. Expect the 4GC to share the lights with the rest of the upcoming 4 Series lineup.

Codenamed as the F36, the 4 Series Gran Coupe will be positioned and priced in the 3/4 Series lineup just as the 6 Series Gran Coupe is positioned in the 5/6 Series lineup (in between the coupe and convertible models). [See our recent article previewing the future 4 Series / M4 lineup].

Like the 6 Series Gran Coupe, the 4 Series Gran Coupe combines the convenience of 4 doors (and larger rear passenger cabin) with the sleek roofline and silhouette of a coupe. It will share the upcoming 4 Series Coupe (F32)'s overall styling, just as the 6 Series Gran Coupe shares with its coupe counterpart. The 4 Series coupe recently revealed its kidney grille design (photos), which we will also see on the 4 Series Gran Coupe. It will also share the same engine offerings as the 4 Series coupe and convertible.

With the 4 Series Gran Coupe as an addition, here is a summary of the upcoming 3 Series / 4 Series lineup:

F30 3 Series Sedan

F31 3 Series Touring

F32 4 Series Coupe

F33 4 Series Convertible

F34 3 Series (GT) Gran Touring

F35 3 Series Long Wheelbase (China only)

F36 4 Series Gran Coupe

Just as the 6 Series Gran Coupe has spawned the M6 Gran Coupe, so it would come as no shock to see an eventual M4 Gran Coupe as well.

Expect the 4 Series Gran Coupe to hit the market sometime in 2014 to compete with the Audi A5 Sportback.

UPDATED WITH FIRST EVER VIDEO - 10/12/12

* Click on images for high resolution *

And in case you missed it, the previous sighting featured the F36 4 Series Gran Coupe (4GC) next to the F30 3 series sedan and the F34 3 Series GT (gran touring) for a good comparison look.

What was confirmed by those photos was the expected difference in roofline heights and shapes between the different models, which mirror the differences between the 6 series gran coupe, 5 series sedan and 5 series GT. The 4GC features the lowest and sleekest roofline, followed by the slightly taller F30 sedan, and then the GT. The 4GC will also add some centimeters in its overall length compared to the F30 sedan.

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Right....there is the 3 series which is 4 doors, then there is the 4 series which is the 2 door version of the 3 series, then there is the 4GC which is the 4-door version of the 2 door version of the 3 series....and then the 4GT which is the 4-door hatchback version of the.....oh never mind....

I think there's a bit of camo around those B-pillars to make them look wider than they actually are. Take a look at the driver's side window and it appears there's a black strip that isn't part of the interior paneling.

Accounting for that, the central B-pillar looks to be the same width as the F30, and I suspect the rest of it is camo to hide the fact that the 4GC will have frameless glass, a la the 6GC and other BMW coupes.

Right....there is the 3 series which is 4 doors, then there is the 4 series which is the 2 door version of the 3 series, then there is the 4GC which is the 4-door version of the 2 door version of the 3 series....and then the 4GT which is the 4-door hatchback version of the.....oh never mind....

is it just me or that car's stance on the track is very low for a stock car. I know it is in the corner but it seems low overall. Not the same car they have taken photo of on the parking lot, just by looking at the rims we can conclude that.

Right....there is the 3 series which is 4 doors, then there is the 4 series which is the 2 door version of the 3 series, then there is the 4GC which is the 4-door version of the 2 door version of the 3 series....and then the 4GT which is the 4-door hatchback version of the.....oh never mind....

I agree. 4-door coupe? What's next, a 2-door sedans? I don't see the point in these 4-door coupes. Just because Mercedes made one doesn't mean BMW or others should follow suit.

They are trying to fix thier numbers and reserve the 3 for 4drs and the 4 for 2drs which as we know might end up causing the legnerdary M3 to be M4.. and now they are showing a 4 series GC with 4 doors!!!!

I don't know why everyone is so concerned about the amount of models and the amount of doors per series. It's called product evolution guys, relax, BMW is still going to produce amazing machines. Who cares what they are called or what series it is the car is going to be killer! Just take it for what it is